Object location system employing logarithmic transducer



Dec. 15, 1953 D. E. SUNSTEIN 2,663,015

LOCATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING LOGARITHMIC TRANSDUCER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 11, 1946 INVENTOR. 0/4100 6. SL105 727/7 2:5 EQEEQ k l Dec. 15, 1953 D. E. SUNSTEIN OBJECT LOCATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING LOGARITHMI C TRANSDUCER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 11, 1946 INVENTOR .D/W/D c. 31/057270 @638 SEE \QQS mediate tonal gradations are obtainable.

Patented Dec. 15, 1953 OBJECT LOCATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING LOGARITHMIC TRANSDUCER David E. Sunstein, Cynwyd, Pa., assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application June 11,1946, Serial No.

675,848. Divided and this application December 24, 1947, Serial'No. 793,741 i 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in radar systems. More specifically it relates to radar systems employing amplifier and detector circuits having certain predetermined characteristics hereinafter to be defined, and which are adapted to preserve a substantially greater portion than has heretofore been possible of the intelligence contained in signals received by a radar system. The invention is thereby adapted to make possible the obtaining of improved in-' in my copending application Serial. No. 675,848,

filed June 11, 1946, relating to a Logarithmic Transducer, of which the present application is a division.

In prior art radar systems, and particularly in those for airborne use, where the number of stages of intermediate frequency amplification which can be used in practice is limited by considerations of weight and bulk, it has been observed that, owing mainly to the saturation of the intermediate frequency amplifier which usually forms a part of the radar system, it is only possible to obtain a picture or reproduction of the terrain observed which is essentially limited to two tones (i. e. black and white). In

other words, certain objects, the reflectivity of which exceeds a certain minimum value, will produce bright areas or spots on a cathode ray 'in dicator: while other objects whose reflectivity is less than this minimum level will produce only black areas on the indicator.

This makes it exceedingly dimcult to interpret the indications as a whole and to distinguish between objects of diiierent sizes and reflectivities'despite the fact that, in the signal as received from the outputs of these two amplifiers are, in effect,

Few if any interadded, and the sum is supplied to the video circuits and indicator of the radar system. By suitable adjustment such an arrangement can be made to provide a three-tone picture instead of the usual two-tone one. Then all signals below a certain level will appear black on the indicator; all between this level and a second level will appear gray; and all above the second level will appear white. It is necessary to adjust such a system in accordance with the average signal strength, and if this-varies, as it may in the case or" an airborne equipment progressing toward a selected target area, the equipment must be adjusted to a new average signal level if full advantage is to be taken of its capabilities. Such a system is obviously limited; it will not, for example, distinguish between targets of different reflectivity which produce'signals, the intensities of which are between the same two signal levels. Although an approximate separation of such targets can'be effected by manually varying the gain control, this is exceedingly inconvenient and is no substitute for a direct indication.

It is the principal object of the invention to overcome this defect of prior systems by providing a method of and means for conserving the intelligence present in received radar signals whereby this intelligence may be reproduced on a cathode ray tube or other suitable indicator so as to provide maximum discrimination among targets of different characteristics.

v Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the detailed descriptionof my invention proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a generalized block diagram of a typical radar system embodying the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates graphically the output versus input characteristic of an amplifier in accordance with the invention, and compares it with the like characteristic for a conventional radar intermediate frequency amplifier.

Figure '3 is a generalized block diagram of an amplifier and detector in accordance with the observed'by a radar to have the same coeiiicient of reflection, regardless of the angle from which they are viewed, then regardless of the fact that the strength or amplitude of signals returnedfrom targets of like characteristics will vary depending on their ranges, the percentage modulation of these signals will always be the same. If this percentage modulation can be maintained throughout the radar receiving system, an indication will result which faithfully reproduces the differences in characteristics of various targets. I have determined that an amplifier or transducer in which the output is substantially proportional to the logarithm of the input signal is best adapted to preserve this characteristic of the received signal, while at the same time permitting the use of a reasonably small number of tubes. This characteristic is represented by the solid line a in Figure 2, while the characteristic for an ordinary I.-F. amplifier is represented by the broken line 1). Such a device will have an output which is proportional to the percentage modulation of the input signal. tion in the receiver in advance of that at which any overloading or limiting effect occurs.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated the application of such a logarithmic L-F. amplifier to a typical radar system, generally represented in block form. The P. R. F. oscillator I generates timespaced pulse signals periodically recurrent at a rate which is primarily determined by the maximum range of target with which the equipment is to be used. These pulses are supplied through modulator 2 to control the generation by transmitter 3 of pulses of high frequency energy preferably in the microwave range. These high frequency pulses are supplied through a conventional T-R box 4 to antenna 5 for transmission into space. Reflections thereof from target objects likewise may be intercepted by antenna 5, and are transmitted through TR box 4 to local oscillator and mixer 6, the output of which may be supplied to logarithmic I.--F. amplifier i. The output of logarithmic amplifier I, which will contain substantially all of the intelligence present in the signal supplied to its input, is supplied to a suitable detector 8, the detected output of which is amplified in video amplifier -9. Rectified pulses corresponding to object-reflected transmitted pulses from the output of video amplifier 9 and pulses from P. R. F. oscillator l are both supplied to a suitable indicator I 0 to provide an indication of either target range or direction, or both. In the system as above described all of the components may be conventional with the exception of logarithmic amplifier I and detector 8. These are in accordance with the invention hereinafter described.

Amplifiers having substantially logarithmic characteristics are well known in the art in a number of forms. Thus, for example, it might be possible to obtain such a characteristic by employing instantaneous automatic gain control on at least several stages of the intermediate frequency amplifier of a superheterodyne radar receiver. However, in order to prevent undesirable transient response to bursts of input signal, the build-up and decay time of the gain-controlling signal must be made substantially less than the reciprocal of the high cut-off frequency of the accompanying video amplifier. This is not readily done, so that in general there will be a loss of intelligence, particularly in respect to signals .representing variations in the characteristic of the terrain or land mass forming the background of the radar indication. Furthermore, for each I.--'F. amplifier tube to which gain control is applied, at least two additional tube sections are required which, in addition to increasing considerably the size and complexity of the circuits, will also have the efiect of reducing the gain on weak signals,

It preferably. should occupy a posior the bandwidth, owing to the introduction of shunt capacity.

I prefer, therefore, to utilize a special form of combined amplifier and detector devised by me which is generally represented in the block diagram of Figure 3. In this diagram are shown a plurality of intermediate frequency amplifier stages I l-l 5, each of which, except the first stage II and the last stage it, receives signal from the preceding stage and supplies its output to the immediately following stage. The first stage I I may be supplied with signal from local oscillator and mixer 6 of the radar system shown in Figure 1. Preferably there are employed the maximum number of stages which can be used without producing an objectionable noise level in the final stage in the absence of input signal from the mixer stage or other source. The outputs of at least some of the I.- F. amplifier stages (namely l2-I4 in the arrangement shown), in addition to being sup-plied to the immediately succeeding stages, are also supplied to separate detector stages l6, l1 and 18. The output of amplifier stage [5 is supplied to an additional detector 19. Preferably detectors are thus provided for every amplifier stage which will overload for an input signal of the maximum intensity with which the circuit is expected to be used. These individual stages are arranged so that, as the amplitude of the signal supplied to the input of stage II increases, successive stages, commencing with stage 15 and proceeding in the direction of stage H, will overload. The circuits are so arranged that, when a given stage overloads, the detector receiving its input signal from the preceding stage, will commence to function. Thus, for example, when stage 14 overloads (stage 15 having previously overloaded) detector ll will commence to detect the signal supplied to it from amplifier stage I3. Thus it will be seen that the number of detectors in operation and providing detected output will depend upon the number of overloaded stages in the intermediate frequency amplifier. The outputs of all detectors are fed to a signal adder 20 in which they are combined to produce a signal which will be substantially the logarithm of the input signal to stage II. Pref erably the signal adder should contain suitable means for delaying by differing amounts the signals supplied by the several detectors, in order that compensation may be made for the transit time through the several amplifier stages and therefore the contributions of all detectors be in phase. This is particularly important when the durations of pulse signals with which the amplifier is .to operate are of the order of the transit time of signals through the amplifier. The out put of signal adder 20 may be supplied to the video amplifier .9 of the radar system according to Figure 1..

Although, as shown, these detectors may be .separate and distinct from the I.F. amplifier stages from which they receive their input signals, it is generally preferable to combine them with the respective amplifier stages so that each amplifier tube will perform a dual function as an amplifier and a detector. When this is done each amplifier stage, as it overloads, itself commences to function as a detector. The several stages may be made to function in accordance with any of the well known methods of detection. For example, they may be operated as either grid leak or cathode follower detectors, in whichevent it will be necessary to provide means for isolating the detected output of each of the stages from the others. This will either result in a loss of gain or require additional tubes. It is, therefore, pref-=- erable to operate the stages as plate or screen detectors and to maintain low 11-6. grid circuit impedances. The plate currents of the amplifier tubes will then increase until the amplitudes of the signals applied to their grids become great enough to operate them over an appreciable part of the curved portion of the grid voltage versus plate current characteristics. If, then, a video load impedance is placed in the plate and/or screen circuits of each stage, in addition to whatever impedance to intermediate frequency is already present, there will be developed across this video load impedance a video signal output when the signal on the grid of the stage reaches a me determined magnitude.

In Figure 4 is shown schematically the circuit of an amplifier particularly adapted for use in a system according to the invention. This amplifier employs both plate and screen detection and consists of five stages comprising respectively tubes 2 F25. Input signal such as that from local oscillator and mixer F, of the typical radar systen shown in Figure 1 is supplied through transformer 25 to the control grid of the first amplifier tube 2|. This tube is not connected to operate as a detector, but its output is supplied through conventional condensing coupling means to the control grid of tube 22. Tubes 22, connected to operate as both plate and screen detectors. Tube 25 in the final stage, however, operates only as a plate detector. Although of the stages may be operated solely as either plate or screen detectors, it is preferable to use a combination of both of these methods of detec tion, particularly when the output impedance of a stage at intermediate frequency is high, in which event the stage will operate relatively inefficiently as a plate detector. these circumstances, it will operate rather eiilciently as a screen detector, I have found that a combination of both methods yields optimum results in most instances. The load impedance for tubes 22, 23, 2d and 25 comprises the delay line composed of inductors 35-3 3, condensers 35-38, and terminated at both its ends in impedances 39 and Alt. Both of these impedances are preferably of the order of magnitude of the characteristic impedance of the delay line in order to minimize reflections at the ends thereof of signals propagated therein. Connections from the different stages to various points on the delay line provide for the necessary delay of the outputs from the different stages, required, as hereinbe fore mentioned, because of the finite transit time through the several stages. Plate and screen voltages for tubes 22-25 are also supplied through a common connection from impedances 353 and 45 to a source of potential. The couplings between the several amplifier stages, for intermediate frequency signals, may be in the form of conventional double tuned circuits as shown between tubes 22 and 23 and between tubes 2:1 and 25. However, in the embodiment shown there is illustrated, between tubes 23 and 2d, a simpler but rather effective coupling which I regard as part of my invention. In this arrangement, which is essentially a single-tuned circuit in which inductors 29 and 39 are tuned respectively by the capacities of tubes 23 and 2 3, to the I.-F. frequency, there is also provided a connection between the plate of tube '23 and the grid of tube is which is a series resonant circuit consisting of condenser 2i and inductor 28 likewise tuned and 2d are Although, under the input circuit of said transducer, said transducer being so constructed and arranged that the to a frequency in the neighborhood of the intermediate frequency. By this means a low impedance and good transfer for intermediate frequency signals is provided between tubes 23 and 26. However, for video frequencies this connec ion will represent a substantial impedance and will permit video signals to be developed in the common plate and screen grid load impedances of tube 23 formed by the delay line. It is to be understood that this form of coupling could be used between other stages of the amplifier, although, in the embodiment as constructed and as illustrated in Figure 4, it was used only between the two stages referred to.

In operation and with the delay line properly adjusted. output from one or more of the several detector circuits, depending upon the number of stages which are overloaded, will appear in prep er phase relation across impedance and may,

' for example, be supplied as video output to video amplifier ii of the radar system shown in Figure 1.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain representative embodiments, it is by no means limited thereto but only as its scope is defined by the appended claims. Thus, for example, although it is preferred to utilize amplifier and detector circuits of the type herein discussed, in order to provide the desired logarithinic output versus input characteristic, this is not to be regarded as essential. Other forms of such circuits may be utilized such as will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing specification. Nevertheless it is to be noted that such other forms may not possess all of the advantages of those herein proposed for the pur- 1 058.

I claim:

1. In a radar system for transmitting timespaced pulses of high frequency energy and re ceiving reflections of said pulses from target objects, the intensity of received reflected pulses varying as a function of both the range and re fiectivity of the targets producing them, a receiver for said reflected pulses, said receiver including a detector for demedulating reflected pulses 121051- ulated upon a high frequency carrier, 9. transducer included. in. said receiver at a position anterior to the output circuit of said detector, means for coupling signals proportional in intensities to the intensities of said received reflected pulses to intensities of signals produced in its output circuit are substantially proportional to the logarithms of the intensities of said signals applied to its input circuit, and an indicator coupled to the output of said receiver and responsive to variations in the intensity of signals supplied to it from said receiver.

2. In a radar system transmitting time-spaced pulses of high frequency energy and receiving refiection of said pulses from target objects, the intensity of received reflected pulses varying as a function of both the range and reflectivity of the targets producing them, a superheterodyne receiver for said reflected pulses, said receiver comprising a combined intermediate frequency amplifier and detector, said combined amplifier and detector being so constructed and arranged that the intensities of signals produced in its output circuit are substantially proportional to the logarithms of the intensities of signals applied to its input circuit, means for coupling to said input circuit of said combined amplifier and detector signals proportional in intensities to the intensities of said received reflected pulses, and an indicator coupled to the output or said receiver and responsive to variations in the intensity of signals applied to it from said receiver.

3. In a radar system for transmitting timespaced pulses of high frequency energy and receiving reflections of, said pulses from target objects, the intensity of received reflected pulses varying as a function of the range and the reflectivity of targets producing them, a superheterodyne receiver for said reflected pulses, said receiver comprising at least a converter constructed and arranged to alter the carrier frequency of said received pulses without substantially altering the relative intensities of said received pulses, a multistage signal transducer connectccl in cascade with said converter, said signal transducer including an input circuit connected to said converter so as to receive signals therefrom, means coupled to said input circuit for amplifying and detecting said pulses of altered frequency, and an output circuit following said amplifying and detecting means said input circuit, said amplifying and detecting means and said output circuit of said signal transducer being so constructed and arranged that the intensities of signals produced in said output circuit of said signal transducer are substantially proportional to the logarithms of the intensities of signals applied. to said input circuit, and an indicator coupled to the output of said receiver and responsive to variations in the intensity of signals supplied to it from said receiver.

4. In a radar system for transmitting the timespaced pulses of high frequency energy and receiving reflections of said pulses from target objects, the intensity of received reflected pulses varying as a function of both the range and reflectivity of the targets producing them, a superheterodyne receiver for said reflected pulses, said receiver comprising at least a converter, a signal transducer connected in cascade between said converter and the output circuit of said receiver, said signal transducer including an input circuit connected to said converter so as to receive intermediate frequency signals therefrom, an intermediate frequency amplifier and a second detector circuit coupled to said input circuit, and an output circuit following said intermediate frequency amplifier and second detector circuit, l,

said input circuit, said intermediate frequency amplifier and second detector circuit, and said output circuit of said signal-transducer being so constructed and arranged that the intensities of signals produced in the output circuit of said signal transducer are substantially proportional to the logarithms of the intensities of said intermediate frequency signals applied to said input circuit, and an indicator coupled to the output circuit of said superheterodyne receiver and responsive to variations in the intensity of transduced pulse signals supplied to it from said receiver.

5. In a radar system for transmitting timespaced pulses of high frequency energy and receiving reflections of said pulses from target ob- .lects, the intensity of received reflected pulses varying as a function of both the range and reflectivity of the targets producing them, a superheterodyne receiver for said reflected pulses, said receiver comprising at least a converter, a signal transducer connected in cascade between said converter and the output circuit or said receiver, said signal transducer including an input circuit, a plurality of cascade connected combined amplifier-detector stages, an output circuit arranged to combine the outputs of said amplifier-detector stages, said signal transducer being so constructed and arranged that the intensities of signals produced in its output circuit are substan-- tially proportional to the logarithms of the intensities of signals applied to its input circuit, and an indicator coupled to the output circuit of said superheterodyne receiver and responsive to variations in the intensity of transduced pulse signals supplied to it from said receiver.

DAVID E. SUNS'I'EIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,711,658 Sprague May '7, 1929 2,014,509 Roosenstein Sept. 17, 1935 2,249,181 Shepard July .15, 1941 2,329,570 Wellenstein et al. Sept. 14, 1943 2,435,890 Fyler Feb. 17, 1948 2,455,265 Norgaard Nov. 30, 1948 2,512, 44 Emslie June 20, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Radio Engineers Handbook by Terman, 1st edition, published 1943 by McGraW-Hill Book Co., Inc., page 640. (Copy in Division 51.) 

